February 28, 2014

From CASANA’s Executive Director:

I am writing today to ask for your help, each and every one of you who care about and love a child with apraxia of speech. As many of you know, this year we are celebrating the 2nd annual Apraxia Awareness Day on May 14, 2014. Last year’s first event was a huge success and we know, with your help, this year we can spread Apraxia Awareness even further!

We are happy to announce that our Congressman Mike Doyle will once again introduce a US Congressional Proclamation in support of Apraxia Awareness. And we are THRILLED that he has also petitioned the White House to issue its own proclamation! This is where YOU come in. CASANA needs you to write to the White House asking them to issue the public proclamation of May 14th as Apraxia Awareness Day.

Below is sample text you can copy and paste in a document to get you started, but please personalize this with your brief story and adapt in suitable ways. Or you can download a template of this text by clicking here. Send the letter to the White House address provided “Attention: Correspondence Office“. Thank you very much for your help! Let’s do this!

I am writing to support the issuance of a Presidential Proclamation for the year 2014 Apraxia Awareness Day, which will be held on May 14, 2014. On this day, we will raise national awareness about Childhood Apraxia of Speech, a particularly difficult, persistent, and severe speech disorder in youngsters. It would help our cause a great deal to receive such an official validation from your esteemed office since yours is the most highly respected position in America, if not the world.

Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS) causes children to have extreme difficulty planning and producing the precise, highly refined and specific series of movements of the tongue, lips, jaw, and palate that are necessary for the production of proper speech. It is among the most severe of speech and communication problems in children. Every child should be afforded their best opportunity to develop speech. With early intervention and appropriate therapy, most children with CAS will learn to communicate with their very own voices. These children, as well as their families, deserve our highest respect for their effort, determination and resilience in the face of such obstacles. If you would choose to issue a Presidential Proclamation in recognition of Childhood Apraxia of Speech Day, it would be a strong testament to the public with regards to your Administration’s support of children and education.

Through a White House proclamation, states, health insurance providers, and schools can be encouraged to recognize the critical need to provide for adequate speech therapy and other services so that the impact of this disorder can be minimized and that affected children can grow into productive and contributing citizens.

Thank you in advance for any time and consideration you may be able to give our humble request.

A CASANA LIVE webinar…

iPad Basics: Using the iPad to Enhance Speech Therapy

Featured speaker: Pooja Aggarwal, M.S., CCC-SLP

(ASHA CEs are available for this webinar)

This webinar is designed for new iPad users; it will look at ways of using the iPad to enhance speech therapy, particularly for children with Childhood Apraxia of Speech (CAS). CAS differs from other speech and language disorders; a review of how SLPs can share their knowledge of evidence-based therapy for children with CAS using the iPad will be provided. The iPad is a powerful tool for fostering a team-based plan of care for each child, in which all team members are able to contribute their knowledge and expertise. This presentation will discuss using the iPad to foster both speech and language success, including an overview of how to get started using the iPad as a form of an alternative/augmentative communication (AAC) device. The use of the iPad as a powerful motivator will be examined. While specific apps may be mentioned briefly, participants will be provided resources for how to search for and evaluate apps as well as factors to consider in how to functionally incorporate apps in therapy, without allowing them to become a distraction. Guided access and helpful accessories will also be discussed. Finally, a discussion of how to use the iPad to encourage homework and generalization of skills across environments will be provided.

A CASANA Live Webinar…

Retaining or Promoting Children with Apraxia of Speech
in Educational Settings

Presented by Dyann Rupp, M.S., CCC-SLP

(ASHA CEs are available for this webinar)

The decision of whether or not to retain/promote a child with a communication disorder is not an easy one. Every child and situation is different, but in most cases, the considerations are the same. There is no flow chart that will give a definitive answer, but this Webinar can guide you through many of the issues to consider while searching for an answer. This webinar features: topics to considering whether to retain or promote a child, retention research, and what you can do to help make a final decision.

A CASANA Live Webinar:

Those Darn R’s! Strategies for Remediation for Persistent “R” Distortions in Childhood Apraxia of Speech

Presented by David Hammer, M.A., CCC-SLP,

(ASHA CEUs are available for this educational event)

This webinar will focus on key factors involved in decision-making when treating /r/ distortions, especially persistent /r/ errors. Challenges for treating /r/ will be outlined as well as potential solutions to meet those challenges. A number of proven therapy strategies that enhance motivation for practice will be presented. The discussion will include state-of-the art computer visual feedback and biofeedback. Home carryover ideas will be emphasized.

A CASANA Live Webinar:

What If It’s More? When Cognitive & Learning Issues Co-occur with Childhood Apraxia of Speech

Presented by Ruth Stoeckel, Ph.D., CCC-SLP,

(ASHA CEUs are available for this educational event)

As more is learned about CAS and long-term outcomes for children, there is evidence that many children with an early history of CAS will have additional learning difficulties. In this session, we will define terms relating to cognitive and learning problems, discuss the professionals who may be involved in assessment and treatment, and review general strategies for monitoring a child’s development and working with therapists and educators to support a child’s development. There will not be discussion of specific advocacy resources due to the variable types and availability of those resources in the US and elsewhere.

(ATLANTA, GA) FEBRUARY 3, 2014 – Oana Hogrefe Photography (Shutterview.com) awarded the Childhood Apraxia of Speech Association of North America (CASANA) $5,000 raised through the Childhood Calendar project. Several families and children who participated in the project were on hand for the check presentation.

Each year a public casting call is issued and 25- 35 children are chosen to be photographed as part of this effort initated by photographer Oana Hogrefe. Funds are collected through the session fee, online voting for the featured monthly images and calendar sales, with 100% of net proceeds being donated to the chosen charity.

The 2014 Childhood Calendar features the beautiful faces of many children affected by apraxia of speech and their siblings as well as quotes about self-expression and communication.

“CASANA truly enjoyed partnering with Oana Hogrefe this past year in order to realize the 2014 feature Childhood Calendar,” says Sharon Gretz, Executive Director of CASANA. “Oana is an extraordinarily talented photographer, as well as human being, and we are so grateful and thankful for her generosity and this amazing donation.”